Onion peeling apparatus

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for peeling onions. A rotating inlet conveyor is provided for introducing whole onions with their skin, and flower and root portions thereon to cutters which remove the flower and root portions end from each onion. Means then transfer the onion to a rotary member which simultaneously conveys the onions to a discharge point and peels them. During the transfer from the inlet conveyor to the conveying-peeling means, the outer peripheries of the onions are scribed to a limited depth of penetration. When the onion is transferred to the conveying means, pressurized air is directed against the scribed outer periphery of the onion to force the skin from the outer surface of the onion. The severed and peeled onion is finally transferred to a discharge station for further processing.

United States Patent Orlowski 1 July 25, 1972 [54] ONION PEELINGAPPARATUS 57 ABSTRACT Inventor: Gerald J- ol'lowski, Calumet Park, 11 vAn apparatus for peeling onions. A rotating inlet conveyor is providedfor introducing whole onions with their skin, and [73] Asslgnee' KoflowCorporation flower and root portions thereon to cutters which remove the[22] Filed: June 19, 1970 flower and root portions end from each onion.Means then 21 A L N 47 763 transfer the onion to a rotary member whichsimultaneously 1 pp 0 conveys the onions to a discharge point and peelsthem. During the transfer from the inlet conveyor to the conveying-peel-[52] U.S. Cl. ..l46/43 R, 146/83 i means, th out r peri heries of theonions are scribed to a [51 1 lift. Cl. de th of enetration when thenion is transferred to Field 0 $8113] R, A, the c nveying eanspressufized air is directed against the scribed outer periphery of theonion to force the skin from the [56] References Cited outer surface ofthe onion. The severed and peeled onion is UNITED STATES PATENTS finallytransferred to a discharge station for further processing. 3,485,27912/1969 Parsons ..l46/43 X 3,402,748 9/1968 Olney ..l46/83 X Prim'aryExaminerWillie G. Abercrombie 17 Claims, 7 Drawing figuresAttorneyMolinare, Allegretti, Newitt & Witcoff 132 15'6 6L2 ?4 P 1.34146143 136 o 150 16 130 7a 25 6 106 e jz x 52 66 r i I is; r b' 1.

9 a! i ,2) 215 1/ o 174 16 we 3 q. J -13! Asa Patented July 25, 1972 4Sheets-Sheet 1 Patented July 25, 1972 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 BEST AVAILABLECOPY ONION FEELING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION FIELD OF THEINVENTION DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART This invention relates toimproved apparatus for cutting the flower and root portions of an onionand for thereafter removing the outer skin or peel therefrom.

In the processing of food products, it is highly desirable from thestandpoint of economics to carry out the major portion of the processingwith mechanical equipment in order to avoid the necessity of tedious andexpensive manual labor. The processing of food products from theirnatural state with automatic equipment is particularly difficult becauseof the wide variation in the size and shape of food products, such asfruits and vegetables. One food product which is particularly difficultto process in a highly efficient, economical manner, is the processingof onions for making onion rings.

In the processing of onions for onion rings, it is first necessary tosever the flower and root portions from the onion, peel the onion andthen slice the onion to the desired thickness prior to separation intorings. In such processing, it is quite difficult to initially begin theprocessing of the onions from the natural state because of the widevariation in size and shape. Although equipment has been known forremoving the flower and root portions from onions for peeling them, suchequipment has not proven to be as effective from the operational andeconomical standpoint as desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an important object of thisinvention to provide an improved apparatus for processing onions fromtheir natural state until they are ready for slicing.

It is also an object of this invention to provide an improved apparatusfor severing the flower and root portions from an onion, providing anonion section of preselected thickness and then peeling the same.

It is another object of this invention to provide an apparatus which ishighly effective and economical in processing raw, natural state onionsby severing the flower and root portions therefrom and by removing thepeels so that the onions are ready for slicing to predeterminedthicknesses.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide apparatus forsevering the opposite ends from an onion and peeling the same whereinthe apparatus continuously moves the onion during processing withgenerally a series of rotary movements.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide an onionprocessing apparatus for processing a natural state onion to a processedonion of preselected thickness, ready for slicing.

Further purposes and objects of this inventionwill appear as thespecification proceeds.

The foregoing objects are accomplished by providing an apparatus forpeeling a plurality of onions having their flower and root portions andpeels thereon, wherein the apparatus includes an inlet conveyor for theonion, cutters on the frame for peeling the onions while transferringthe onions to the discharge section, scribe cells on the frame forsevering the onion to a preselected depth of penetration to facilitatepeeling of the onions, and transfer means for moving the onion from thecutter section to the peeling and conveying section as the scribingoperation is performed on the onion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A particular embodiment of the presentinvention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of my apparatus for processing onionswherein the inlet section, transfer-scribing section, peeling sectionand the discharge section are illustrated;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 with the coverremoved;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 4showing an enlarged, detailed section of a portion of the inlet conveyoras the onion is being transferred to the end severing section of theconveyor;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a detailed cross-sectional view taken along the line 5-5 ofFIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 6- 6 of FIG.1, showing the peeling section 'of the conveyor used for transferringthe onions from the end severing section to the discharge section; and

FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 7- 7 of FIG.1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to thedrawings, particularly FIGS. 1 and 2, an onion peeling apparatus,generally 10, includes a frame generally 12, an inlet section, generally14, a cutter and transfer section, generally 16, a peeling section,generallyl8, and an outlet or discharge section, generally 20.

The frame 12 includes a pair of side frame weldments 22, with aplurality of cross support members 24 rigidly interconnecting the sideframes 22. A cover sheet 26 is provided for enclosing the operatingsection of the apparatus 10.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 1-3, the inlet section 14 is shown indetail. The inlet section 14 generally includes a rotary load wheel 28,which as viewed in FIG. 1, is rotated in a generally counterclockwisedirection, so as to receive onions, designated by the letter N shown inphantom view, from the intake section 14 to the processing portions ofthe apparatus 10. The load wheel 28 is rigidly mounted upon a drivenshaft 30 which is rotatably carried in a pair of pillow blocks 32 whichare mounted on each of the side frames 22. A drive sprocket 34 isrigidly mounted on the driven shaft 30 and operatively engages a drivechain 36. As will be described hereinafter, the drive shaft 30 and loadwheel 28 are rotated in timed sequence or synchronization with theremaining processing sections of the apparatus 10.

A plurality of product receiving elements 38, such as eight, are rigidlymounted on the outer periphery of the wheel 28. The product receivingelements 38 project radially from the outer periphery of the wheel28,and positively engage the onions N. The product receiving elements38, as shown best in FIGS. 3 and 5, each comprise a unitary memberhaving a pair of spaced V-notched walls 40 which receive the onions N intherein. Screws 42 pass through suitable apertures in the unitary base44 and secure the product receiving elements 38 to the load wheel 28.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, a curved finger 46 is pivotally secured toone of the upstanding V-walls 40 and spring member 48 biases the curvedfinger 46 inwardly so as to positively engage an onion N between one ofthe fingers 46 and the V-notched walls 30. The bias of the spring 48 issufi'icient to firmly and positively hold the onion N in place while atthe same time not damage the onion. An operator manually inserts theonion ends into the V-notched wall 30 by retracing the curved finger 46against the bias of the spring 48 and then inserting the onion Ntherein.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 4, the cutter and transfersection 16 may be seen in detail. Although the rotary transfer arm 50and the rotary saw blades 52 are coaxial with each other as shown bestin FIG. 3, the direction of rotation of the arms 50 and the blades 52are opposite. The saw blades 52 rotate, as viewed in FIG. 3, in aclockwise direction, while the load wheel 28 and rotary transfer arm 50rotate in a counterclockwise direction.

A central rotating shaft 54 is rotatably carried in a pair of pillowblocks 56 rigidly mounted to the side frames 22 of the frame 12. Asprocket 58 is securely mounted upon the central shaft 54 and engages adrive chain 60. As will be described hereinafter, the drive chain 60 aswell as the drive chain 36 are driven by the drive mechanism, generally62, which will be hereinafter described in greater detail.

The rotary transfer arm 50 is rigidly securedto the central portion ofthe central shaft 54, as by means of a key connection 64, shown in FIG.3. In the embodiment shown, only one rotary transfer arm 50 is usedrequiring the shaft 54 to rotate at a rotary speed which is eight timesthe rotary speed of the load wheel 28. The rotary transfer arm 50 issynchronized to engage an onion carried on one of the product receivingelements 38, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 3, after the root and flowerportions of the onion N have been severed therefrom by the pair ofspaced rotary saw blades 52. The central portion of the onion N isconfined between the saw blades 52 while the rotary transfer arm 50rotates the severed onion section to the peeling section 18,simultaneously with which a pair of spaced scribe blades 66 penetratethe outer skin of the onion to a preselected depth.

A pair of separate, similarly constructed saw blade assemblies 68support both the severing saw blades 52 and the scribe blades 66. Eachof the saw blade assemblies 68, as shown best in FIG. 4, includes anelongated central hub portion 70 having an annular flanged end 72. Thecentral portion of the hub 70 has an axial base which is mounted aroundand supported by the central shaft 54. The hub portion 70 is spaced fromthe central shaft 54 by pairs of spaced bearings 74 which are rigidlysecured at the opposite inner ends of the hub portion 70 and whichrotatably support the hubs 70 relative to the rotatable central shaft54. The end of the hub 70 opposite the annular flange 72 includes atiming belt gear 76 arranged to receive a timing belt 78. The beltrotates the saw blade assembly 68 at the desired rotary speed. Thetiming belts 78 are interconnected to the drive mechanism 62 to behereinafter described in greater detail.

The outer end of the annular flange 72 has a scribe blade 66 mountedthereon. The outer edge of the scribe blade 66 ex tends slightly beyondthe cylindrical edge 80 defined by the annular flange 72. The distancethat the scribe blade 66 extends beyond the cylindrical edge 80determines the depth of the scribe for the outer skin of the onion N.

The large rotary saw blade 52 is mounted on the hub portion 70 againstthe inner end of the annular flange 72. An annular clamping member 82 isreceived on the hub portion 70 and the saw blade 52 is rigidly held inplace between the annular flange 72 and the clamping member 82. Aplurality of fasteners, such as screws and nuts, are passed through thescribe blades 66, the annular flange 72, the saw blades 52 and theclamping member 82 in order to rigidly hold the saw blades 52 and 66firmly in place. The diameter of the saw blade 52 is substantiallygreater than the diameter of the scribe blade 66 since the saw blades 52completely sever the flower and root portions from the onion N while thescribe saws merely cut the onion N to facilitate peeling. Furthermore,the saw blades 52 serve the further function of maintaining appropriatealignment for the onions N as the rotary transfer arm 50 transfers theonion N to the peeling section 18 as the skin of the onion is scribed bythe blades 66.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, 6, and 7, the details of the peeling section 18are shown. The severed and scribed onions N are intercepted by thestationary rails 86 which extend into the space between the rotary sawblades 52. The rotary transfer arm 50 passes between the ends of thestationary discharge rails 86, which are secured to the chain frame 12by support bars 88.

A rotary shaft 90 is rotatably mounted on pillow blocks 92 which aremounted on each of the side frames 22 of the machine frame 12. Thepeeling section 18 includes a rotary paddle blade assembly 94 and arotary squirrel cage assembly 96. Both the squirrel cage 96 and thepaddle blade assembly 94 are rotated in the same direction, acounterclockwise direction, as seen in FIG. 1.

The paddle blade assembly 94 includes a hub 100 which is fixedly securedto the rotary shaft 90, as by a set screw 102. The hub 100 includes aplurality of radially extending arms 100, such as eight, which areequiangularly spaced from each other. The outer ends of the arms 104each include an inwardly offset portion 106 which, as seen best in FIG.6, is provided to engage an onion N as it passes from the cutting andtransfer section 16 to the peeling section 18. The offset portions 106of the arms 104, as they rotate in a rotary direction toward thedischarge section 20, act to transfer the onions N simultaneously withthe peeling thereof.

The squirrel cage assembly 96 includes a support portion or a hubportion 108 having a central bore with a pair of bearing members 110securely mounted therein. A locking collar 112 is mounted on the outerend of the hub portion 108 to lock the squirrel cage assembly 96 inplace on the shaft 90. A seal 1 14 is provided exterior of the inner ofthe bearings 110. The bearings 1 10 rotatably support the squirrel cage96 relative to the rotary shaft 90. The paddle blade assembly 94 movesat a lower rate of rotary speed than the squirrel cage assembly 96, forreasons hereinafter to become apparent. The outer end of the squirrelcage hub portion 108 has a sprocket 1 16 mounted thereon. The sprocket116 engages a chain 118 which interconnects to the drive mechanism 62.An annular central portion 120 is securely mounted on the annular outerend of the hub portion 108 by bolts 122. A plurality of radiallyextending spokes 124 extend from the annular central portion 128 andinterengage with an outer circular rim 126. A plurality of closelyspaced, parallel pins 128 extend inwardly from the flanged portion ofthe rim 126.

The function of the substantially cylindrical surface defined by thepins 128 is to effect rotary movement of the onions N themselves as theyare moved from the cutting and transfer section 16 to the dischargesection 20 by the paddle blade assembly 94. The rotary movement impartedto the onions N facilitates the peeling of the outer skin of the onionsN by pressurized air, imparted to the outer surface thereof during therotary movement. The offset portions 106 of the arms 104 are locatedapproximately centrally of the pins 128. The squirrel cage 96 rotates ata substantially higher rate of speed than the paddle blade assembly 94in order to provide the desired rotary movement to the onion N.

A pair of side rails, 130, are mounted on the machine frame 12 radiallyoutwardly of the pins 128 of the squirrel cage 96. The side rails 130maintain the onion N in place during the peeling operation as the onionsN are received by the squirrel cage 96, and as they are moved to thedischarge section 20. The side rails 130 extend for approximately 90 ofthe circumference of the squirrel cage 96, from the cutting section 18to the discharge section 20.

A compressed air manifold 132 is mounted to a frame cross support 24 anda compressed air line 134, extending from a source of pressurized air(not shown) is interconnected to the manifold 132. A plurality of airoutlet tubes 136 extend from the manifold 132 and terminate with nozzleswhich are directed against the outer periphery or skin of the onion N asit moves in its path of travel from the cutting section 16 to thedischarge section 20. Since the onion outer periphery has beencircumferentially severed by the pair of scribe blades 66, the skin, asit reaches the peeling section 18 is in three separate sections. Thepressurized air acting against the onions N, combined with the rotarymovement of the onions, forces the severed outer layers of the skin ofthe onions N therefrom, resulting in the desired peeling of the onions.This peeling is accomplished during the relatively short path of travelof the onions N as they are carried to the discharge section by thepaddle wheel assembly 94. A pair of discharge rails 138 are provided atthe discharge section 20 for intercepting the onions N from theirposition on the periphery of the squirrel cage 96.-One of the dischargerails 138 includes a bottom rail 140 which engages an onion N as it ismoved down the discharge rail 138 to a take-off conveyor 142. Thedischarge rails 138 are securely mounted to the machine frame 12 bysuitable support arms 144.

The drive mechanism is seen best in FIGS. 1 and 2. The drive mechanism62 includes a first drive motor 146 which is mounted on the frame 12 atits upper central portion. The drive motor 146 has an output shaft 148which has a pair of pulleys 150 which operatively engage a pair of belts152. A jack shaft 154 is rotatably mounted on a pair of pillow blocks156 which are rigidly mounted on the central of the cross supports 24 ofthe frame 12. A pair of pulleys 158 are mounted on the outer end of thejack shaft 154 and engage the drive belts 152. The jack shaft 154 isthus rotated. A pair of timing belt gears 160 are fixedly secured to thejack shaft 154. Each of the timing belt gears 160 engage a timing belt78 which drives a saw blade assembly 68, as previously described.

All of the remaining operating parts of the apparatus are operativelydriven by a motor-gear reducer set 162. The separate drive motor 146 forthe saw blade assembly 168 is preferably used because the saw bladeassembly rotates in a direction opposite that of all other rotatingparts of the machine. The motor gear reducer 162 is rigidly mounted on asupport plate 164 which is fixed to one of the side frames 22 of theframe 12. The output shaft 166 of the motor-gear reducer 162 has asprocket 168 securely mounted thereon. The sprocket 168 engages a drivechain 170, which in turn, engages a sprocket 172 which is rigidlysecured to the central drive shaft 174. The central drive shaft isrotatably carried in a pair of pillow blocks 176 which are mounted onthe side frames 22 of the machine frame 12. A drive sprocket 178 ismounted on the central drive shaft 174 and engages the drive chain 60which engages the sprocket 58 on the central shaft 54 which rotates therotary transfer arm 50 in a counterclockwise direction, as previouslydescribed.

Sprocket 180 is also securely mounted on the central drive shaft 174 andengages the drive chain 36 which engages the drive sprocket 34, mountedon the shaft 30 of the load wheel assembly 28. The central drive shaft174 also has a sprocket 182 mounted at its outer end which engages adrive chain 184 which, in turn, engages the sprocket 186 mounted on therotary shaft 90 which operates the paddle blade assembly 94. Anothersprocket 188 on the central drive shaft 174 engages a drive chain 118which operatively engages the sprocket 116 on the hub portion 108 of thesquirrel cage assembly 96.

Although it is believed that the foregoing provides a full descriptionof the apparatus 10, for a more complete understanding of the invention,a brief discussion of the operation will be provided. In operation, anoperator, stationed at the inlet section 14, manually places unpeeled,uncut onions N, having flower and root portions thereon onto the loadingwheel 28. The curved finger 46 is withdrawn from the V- shaped walls 40,the onion is inserted into the V section, and the curved finger 46 holdsthe onion N in place on each product receiving element 38, as each ismoved to the cutting and transfer section 16. The loading wheel 18, asviewed in FIG. 1, rotates in a counterclockwise direction as does the rotary transfer arm 50.

As the onions N are moved toward the cutting and transfer section 16,the large rotary saw blades 52 intersect the onions and sever the flowerand root portions from the onions as they are carried into the path ofthe rotating blades 52. The onions N are held in place between therotary saw blades 52 and are pivoted or moved in a counterclockwisedirection around the hub portion 70 of the saw blade assembly 68 towardthe peeling section 18. During and simultaneously with this transferringmovement, the outer periphery of each onion is severed to apredetermined depth of penetration by the pair of scribe blades 66. Thedepth of penetration is sufficient to effect later peeling of the onion.

The transfer arm 50 carries the onion N around to the peeling section,until the path of travel is intercepted by the stationary take-off rails86 and the onions N are moved down to the outer periphery of thesquirrel cage assembly 96 and the paddles 106 of the paddle bladeassembly 94 transfer the onions N from the cutting and transfer section16 to the discharge section 20. During the transferring movement, theonions N are simultaneously rotated about their own axis by the outerperiphery of the squirrel cage 96 and compressed air is directed againsttheir outer periphery from the nozzles of the discharge tubes 136. Thecompressed air acting at various places in the path of travel of theonions N forces the three sections of skin from the onion, which is heldin place on the squirrel cage between the side rails 130. The paddles ofthe paddle blade assembly 94 carry the onions N to the discharge rails138 which intercept the path of travel and the onions are carrieddownwardly to a belt conveyor 142 where the peeled onions, with theirflower and root portions removed, are carried for further processing,such as slicing and ultimate separation into onion rings.

While in the foregoing, there has been provided a detailed descriptionof a particular embodiment of the present invention, it is to beunderstood that all equivalents obvious to those skilled in the art areto be included within the scope of the invention as claimed.

Whatl claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The apparatus for peeling onions having flower and root portions,said apparatus comprising in combination, a frame, spaced cutting meanson said frame for simultaneously severing the flower and root portionsfrom said onions, means mounted on said frame intermediate said spacedknife means for scribing said onions to a preselected depth ofpenetration intermediate the cut ends of said onions, means for rotatingsaid onions about their longitudinal axes, means for forcibly drivingthe scribed layers of said onions therefrom during said rotatingmovement thereby peeling said onions, and means for continuouslyconveying said onions in a path of travel from an inlet position forsaid onions to an outlet position and through said cutting means, saidscribing means, said rotating means, and said drive means.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 including inlet conveyor means comprising arotating wheel having a plurality of onion receiving means in the outerperiphery thereof.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said receiving means comprises arigid holder for receiving an onion, and spring biased means forengaging and holding said onion against said rigid holder.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said inlet conveyor includes meansfor positively holding each of said onions in place thereon, and saidsevering means comprises a pair of rotary cutters constructed andarranged to sever the flower and root portions from said onion in adirection transverse to the longitudinal axis of the said onions, saidrotary cutters being spaced from each other a distance greater than thewidth of the said receiving means for the said onion on said inletconveyor.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said cutting means comprises a pairof spaced rotary cutters constructed and arranged to completely severthe flower and root portions from said onions.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 including an inlet conveyor comprisingrotating wheel means, said severing means comprises a rotary cuttermeans, said conveying means includes a rotary arm for carrying saidonions through said scribing means and to said rotary means, said rotaryarm and said rotating wheel means being rotatable in the same directionand said rotary cutting means being rotatable in a direction oppositethat of said arm and said wheel.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said conveying means includes arotating arm which engages said onions as the flower and root portionsare severed therefrom and then transfers said severed onions in a rotarymotion to said rotating means and said driving means.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 including an inlet conveyor means comprisinga rotary wheel having onion holding means mounted on the outer peripherythereof, said severing means comprises a rotary cutter means spacedapart a distance greater than said holding means and said conveyingmeans includes a rotary arm spaced intermediate said rotary cutters andof a thickness which is constructed and arranged to engage the outerperiphery of each of said onions after the flower and root portions havebeen severed therefrom.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said rotary cutter means and saidrotary arm rotate in opposite directions and are coaxial with eachother.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the said scribing means comprises apair of rotary cutters constructed and arranged to penetrate the outerperiphery of said onions to said preselected depth of penetration only.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said scribing means comprisesrotary cutters adapted to penetrate the outer skin of said onion to alimited depth of penetration, said severing means comprises a pair ofspaced rotary cutters, spaced outwardly of and at a distance greaterthan the distance between said scribing cutters, said scribing cuttersand said severing cutter means being coaxial and rotate in the samedirection, and an inlet conveyor is provided and comprises a rotarywheel rotating in a direction opposite that of said scribing means andsaid severing means.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said conveying means includes anarm which engages said onions after the severing of their root andflower portions and causes the outer periphery of said onion to moveagainst said scribing cutters to penetrate the outer periphery of saidonions to said preselected depth of penetration, at least two of saidscribing cutters being provided.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said driving means includes blowermeans directed against the outer periphery of said unions to cause thepeeling thereof.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said conveying means comprisesrotary conveying means for receiving and moving said severed and scribedonions and said driving means includes means for blowing pressurized airon the outer periphery of said onions for forcing the peels therefrom.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 including a discharge portion and fixedmeans are provided on said frame for intercepting the path of travel ofsaid peeled onion on said conveying means for directing said onions to adischarge portion of said frame.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 including an inlet conveyor, said conveyingmeans includes a rotary arm to move said onions through said scribingmeans and said severing means and said scribing means are rotary androtate in a direction opposite the direction of said inlet conveyor andof said conveying means.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said driving means in cludes ablower which is directed against the outer periphery of said onions asthey are being moved by said rotating means.

i i i I t

1. The apparatus for peeling onions having flower and root portions, said apparatus comprising in combination, a frame, spaced cutting means on said frame for simultaneously severing the flower and root portions from said onions, means mounted on said frame intermediate said spaced knife means for scribing said onions to a preselected depth of penetration intermediate the cut ends of said onions, means for rotating said onions about their longitudinal axes, means for forcibly driving the scribed layers of said onions therefrom during said rotating movement thereby peeling said onions, and means for continuously conveying said onions in a path of travel from an inlet position for said onions to an outlet position and through said cutting means, said scribing means, said rotating means, and said drive means.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 including inlet conveyor means comprising a rotating wheel having a plurality of onion receiving means in the outer periphery thereof.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said receiving means comprises a rigid holder for receiving an onion, anD spring biased means for engaging and holding said onion against said rigid holder.
 4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said inlet conveyor includes means for positively holding each of said onions in place thereon, and said severing means comprises a pair of rotary cutters constructed and arranged to sever the flower and root portions from said onion in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the said onions, said rotary cutters being spaced from each other a distance greater than the width of the said receiving means for the said onion on said inlet conveyor.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said cutting means comprises a pair of spaced rotary cutters constructed and arranged to completely sever the flower and root portions from said onions.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1 including an inlet conveyor comprising rotating wheel means, said severing means comprises a rotary cutter means, said conveying means includes a rotary arm for carrying said onions through said scribing means and to said rotary means, said rotary arm and said rotating wheel means being rotatable in the same direction and said rotary cutting means being rotatable in a direction opposite that of said arm and said wheel.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said conveying means includes a rotating arm which engages said onions as the flower and root portions are severed therefrom and then transfers said severed onions in a rotary motion to said rotating means and said driving means.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1 including an inlet conveyor means comprising a rotary wheel having onion holding means mounted on the outer periphery thereof, said severing means comprises a rotary cutter means spaced apart a distance greater than said holding means and said conveying means includes a rotary arm spaced intermediate said rotary cutters and of a thickness which is constructed and arranged to engage the outer periphery of each of said onions after the flower and root portions have been severed therefrom.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said rotary cutter means and said rotary arm rotate in opposite directions and are coaxial with each other.
 10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the said scribing means comprises a pair of rotary cutters constructed and arranged to penetrate the outer periphery of said onions to said preselected depth of penetration only.
 11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said scribing means comprises rotary cutters adapted to penetrate the outer skin of said onion to a limited depth of penetration, said severing means comprises a pair of spaced rotary cutters, spaced outwardly of and at a distance greater than the distance between said scribing cutters, said scribing cutters and said severing cutter means being coaxial and rotate in the same direction, and an inlet conveyor is provided and comprises a rotary wheel rotating in a direction opposite that of said scribing means and said severing means.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said conveying means includes an arm which engages said onions after the severing of their root and flower portions and causes the outer periphery of said onion to move against said scribing cutters to penetrate the outer periphery of said onions to said preselected depth of penetration, at least two of said scribing cutters being provided.
 13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said driving means includes blower means directed against the outer periphery of said onions to cause the peeling thereof.
 14. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said conveying means comprises rotary conveying means for receiving and moving said severed and scribed onions and said driving means includes means for blowing pressurized air on the outer periphery of said onions for forcing the peels therefrom.
 15. The apparatus of claim 14 including a discharge portion and fixed means are provided on said frame for intercepting the path of travel of said peeled onion on said conveying means for directing said onions to a discharge portion of said frame.
 16. The apparatus of claim 1 including an inlet conveyor, said conveying means includes a rotary arm to move said onions through said scribing means and said severing means and said scribing means are rotary and rotate in a direction opposite the direction of said inlet conveyor and of said conveying means.
 17. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said driving means includes a blower which is directed against the outer periphery of said onions as they are being moved by said rotating means. 